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Duloxetine for Colorectal Cancer

Phase 2 & 3
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 1 month post-oxaliplatin treatment

Summary

This trial is testing duloxetine to see if it can help prevent pain, tingling, and numbness caused by oxaliplatin in patients with colorectal cancer.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for stage II-III colorectal cancer patients who are about to receive oxaliplatin treatment and have no prior neurotoxic chemotherapy, pre-existing neuropathy, seizure disorders, glaucoma, severe psychiatric conditions or substance abuse. They must not be on certain medications like MAOIs or strong CYP1A2 inhibitors and should not be pregnant.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing whether duloxetine can prevent peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling, numbness) in patients receiving oxaliplatin for colorectal cancer. It involves comparing the effects of duloxetine with a placebo while monitoring quality-of-life through questionnaires.
What are the potential side effects?
Duloxetine may cause side effects such as nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite and increased sweating. It might also affect mood and could potentially lead to more serious mental health issues.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 1 month post-oxaliplatin treatment
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 1 month post-oxaliplatin treatment for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Chronic neuropathic pain response (Phase III)
Prevention of sensory oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) response (Phase II)
Prevention of sensory oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) response (Phase III)
Secondary study objectives
Incidence of adverse events, including duloxetine side effects of nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, somnolence, fatigue, and insomnia (Phase II)
Incidence of adverse events, including duloxetine side effects of nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, somnolence, fatigue, and insomnia (Phase III)
Serially measured patient reported on the average pain scores (Phase III)
+1 more

Trial Design

5Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Phase III, Arm I (duloxetine hydrochloride)Experimental Treatment5 Interventions
Patients in Phase III receive most promising dose of duloxetine hydrochloride from Phase II PO QD in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Group II: Phase II, Arm II (duloxetine hydrochloride)Experimental Treatment5 Interventions
Patients in Phase II receive duloxetine hydrochloride 30 mg (1 duloxetine capsule) orally (PO) once daily (QD) during week 1, duloxetine hydrochloride 60 mg (2 duloxetine capsules) PO QD during weeks 2-16, followed by duloxetine hydrochloride 30 mg (1 duloxetine capsule) PO QD during week 17 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Group III: Phase II, Arm I (duloxetine hydrochloride, placebo)Experimental Treatment6 Interventions
Patients in Phase II receive duloxetine hydrochloride 30 mg (1 duloxetine capsule) orally (PO) once daily (QD) during week 1, duloxetine hydrochloride 30 mg (1 duloxetine capsule) PO QD and placebo (1 placebo capsule) PO QD during weeks 2-16, followed by duloxetine hydrochloride 30 mg (1 duloxetine capsule) PO QD during week 17 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Group IV: Phase II, Arm III (placebo)Placebo Group4 Interventions
Patients in Phase II receive placebo (1 placebo capsule) orally (PO) once daily (QD) during week 1, placebo (2 placebo capsules) PO QD weeks 2-16, followed by placebo (1 placebo capsule) PO QD during week 17 in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Group V: Phase III, Arm II (placebo)Placebo Group4 Interventions
Patients in Phase III receive placebo PO QD in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Duloxetine Hydrochloride
2006
Completed Phase 4
~1210
Oxaliplatin
2011
Completed Phase 4
~2890
Duloxetine
2011
Completed Phase 4
~4170

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)NIH
13,924 Previous Clinical Trials
41,017,731 Total Patients Enrolled
Alliance for Clinical Trials in OncologyLead Sponsor
518 Previous Clinical Trials
222,177 Total Patients Enrolled
Ellen M. Lavoie Smith, PhDStudy ChairThe University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
~12 spots leftby Feb 2025